Defensive tackle Richard Seymour returned to practice Monday as he tries to come back to play what are probably his last three games as an Oakland Raider.

Seymour has missed the past five games with a hamstring injury and will be a free agent when his contract becomes void at the end of the season.

"I would love to retire a Raider, but I have earned the right to be a free agent," Seymour said.

Seymour, 33, has played in 53 games in four seasons for Oakland since Al Davis traded a first-round pick for him in 2009. The seven-time Pro Bowler has 18.5 sacks and 139 tackles in his time with the Raiders.

Seymour is saying all the right things, but the writing is on the wall - in fact, the Raiders' 3-10 record and six straight losses are spray-painted on it like subway graffiti. McKenzie and the Raiders are in rebuilding mode and are unlikely to try to re-sign Seymour.

Twenty-six players who were on the roster in Week 17 of last season have been jettisoned by McKenzie and rookie head coach Dennis Allen in their first year leading the team. Starting cornerback Ron Bartell was waived Monday (see separate story).

"It's a business," Seymour said. "Everybody is being evaluated from the top to the bottom. We're all in this together, and we have to put our best foot forward. This is a great week to get back on track."

Seymour restructured his deal in March, lowering his $7.5 million fully guaranteed base salary to the league minimum ($925,000) with the remaining $6.575 million converted to a guaranteed roster bonus.

That bonus will be treated as a signing bonus for salary-cap purposes and is prorated over the maximum allowable number of years (five). Thus, the five-year, $37.5 million "extension" that Seymour signed in March.

Seymour practiced Monday but doesn't know if he'll be able to play Sunday against the Chiefs. "Obviously, I'm not there yet, but it's a step in the right direction," he said. "We'll see how this week of practice goes."

Seymour said he sustained a Grade 2 hamstring tear against Tampa Bay on Nov. 4. "It was pretty significant."

McFadden OK: Running back Darren McFadden, who tweaked his right ankle Thursday against Denver, practiced Monday and said he expects to play Sunday.

"It made my nerves kind of jittery," he said, but "it was more of a scare than anything. It was cool today. ... I was moving good, making all my cuts. I'm not concerned."

Spencer has Lisfranc: Cornerback Shawntae Spencer (injured reserve) was in the house, and his foot is still not right. The team wouldn't acknowledge it last month, but it's a serious Lisfranc sprain, just like McFadden had last season.